Like opponent Billy Evangelista, K.J. Noons’ most recent MMA outing resulted in a loss to weekend title challenger Jorge Masvidal.

Masvidal, who got a title shot against champ Gilbert Melendez because of the performance, outstruck a fellow striker and cruised to a shutout decision victory.

For Noons, a sometimes-pro boxer who got his start in kickboxing, the June loss was further proof he needed to round out all aspects of his game.

So when Noons (10-4 MMA, 2-2 SF) meets the very well-rounded Billy Evangelista (11-1 MMA, 7-1 SF) on the Showtime-televised main card of Saturday’s “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal” event at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, expect Noons to show off some of his other skills.

After all, he’s not the same fighter he was upon his 2002 pro debut.

“I was a pro kickboxer before I even started MMA,” Noons told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “The problem was that every time I kicked, people would take me down. And I didn’t even know any takedown defense or even any wrestling. So at the beginning of my career, I used to be a great kicker. Then I just quit kicking because I didn’t want to be taken down. I think I’ve now proved that I’ve got no problem getting back up.

“I’ve been working on everything for this fight. I’m not scared of being taken down. I’ll even take people down if I need to. I definitely shied away from the ground game. I’ve just always chose to stick to boxing. And I paid for it in my last flight.”

Much of the 29-year-old’s pre-fight camp has focused on rounding out his game following that bloody Masvidal loss. With few other distractions – Saturday’s host site is walking distance from his San Diego home – Noons has focused heavily on pre-fight preparations.

After all, he’s stuck in a two-fight losing streak, and even though the natural lightweight took then-Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz the distance, Noons’ job could be in jeopardy if he suffers a third straight defeat.

So come Saturday, expect to see a better competitor.

“I feel like I’ll probably be a better all-around MMA fighter,” he said. “I’ve been getting away a lot with being a one-dimensional fighter, so I changed my camp up. I’ve got Jeff Clark in camp for this fight. It’s been real nice. It’s good to touch up on a lot of things.

“Really I’m just going to be a better all-around fighter. I’m not going to be one-dimensional like I was in the last flight.”

Still, if Evangelista wants a slugfest, Noons may be happy to oblige. But rather than doing what he enjoys most – or even doing what he does best – he’s simply going to be looking for an edge wherever he can get it.

If it’s standing, great. But if he can capitalize on the mat, so be it.

“Billy’s a great fighter,” Noons said. “He’s got a great style. Styles make fights, but I’m just going go out there with my style and see where I have the advantage and win the fight and put on a good show.”

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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